Xifeng develops agro-photovoltaic model for sustainable growth

Rows of blue photovoltaic panels stretch across the hillsides in Xiaozhaiba town of Xifeng county. Beneath them, thriving fields of asparagus root, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, create a unique agro-photovoltaic landscape where clean energy generation and herbal cultivation coexist.

The site is home to the Guizhou Sancaogu Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herb Industrial Base, the first comprehensive project in Guizhou under the "Integrated Production Technology Research for Empowering the Photovoltaic Industry with Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs" initiative.

Using more than 2,000 mu (about 133 hectares) of land beneath the photovoltaic facilities of CNNC CNNP Rich Energy Co's agricultural solar power station, the base has designated a 500-mu demonstration zone that combines photovoltaic power generation with asparagus root cultivation. It has already established a 3-mu germplasm resource nursery, an 82-mu seedling propagation area, and a 115-mu demonstration planting area, with an annual seedling production capacity of 2 million plants.

The base has partnered with the Institute of Modern Chinese Medicinal Materials of the Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences to address cultivation challenges under photovoltaic conditions. Expert teams have provided technical guidance on germplasm selection, seedling propagation, water and fertilizer management, and pest and disease control, helping develop a cultivation system tailored to the photovoltaic environment.

In recent years, the base has explored an innovative model integrating photovoltaic power generation, medicinal herb cultivation, and scientific research. The model has improved land-use efficiency, enhanced the overall benefits of the solar power station, and promoted the development of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb industry.